Chapter 804: The Origin of the Knowledge Line

This was Chen Mobai's second visit to Ju Xian Peak. As he ascended the steps, the tall, ancient stone gate still stood at the summit, just as it had before.

After achieving the Nascent Soul stage, he looked at the realm gate again and perceived a different essence. Beyond the gate's sense of vastness and the weight of ages, he could faintly hear, through the 'Sound of the Empty Valley,' the wind, rain, thunder, and clamor from various distant places. It seemed as if the entire world lay beyond that gate.

Chen Mobai stopped before the realm gate. Only upon drawing closer did he realize that this stone gate was a materialized form of void energy. The Turtle Treasure, which had been dormant, suddenly conveyed a feeling of hunger at that moment.

"Sir, this way, please."

Chen Chun, who had walked ahead, noticed Chen Mobai hadn't followed. She paused and spoke up to remind him.

Chen Mobai nodded, restrained the Turtle Treasure, and followed her to the center of Ju Xian Peak.

It was a vast plaza, but at its center, a portal opened in the void. Beyond the portal was an indoor space filled with various arcade machines. With Chen Mobai's eyesight, it was easy to spot a white-haired young man reclining on a sofa, playing with a palm-sized handheld game console.

"Is that Patriarch Qianxing?"

Chen Mobai was somewhat surprised. Although everyone in the Immortal Sect knew there were two Divine Transformation Patriarchs, information and portraits of them were kept secret. However, as a core member of the Dao Academy, Chen Mobai knew that when Patriarch Qianxing achieved his cultivation and maintained his youthful appearance, he was already a young man.

"Could it be that after achieving Divine Transformation, he reverted to childhood?"

At this moment, Chen Chun pointed to several stone stools in the plaza, indicating that Chen Mobai could sit down and wait. Chen Mobai nodded and chose one. Then he noticed that Chen Chun remained standing. Chen Mobai hesitated, pointed to another stone stool, and indicated that she could also sit. However, Chen Chun shook her head, stating that it was fine as it was.

The two of them waited like this before the void portal. More than half a day quickly passed. As night approached, Patriarch Qianxing was still engrossed in his handheld game.

"Was this an attempt to assert dominance?" Chen Mobai thought this, but dared not interrupt.

As dusk settled, Patriarch Qianxing finally changed his reclining posture. He stretched, stood up, and then casually tossed his handheld game onto the sofa. Upon seeing this, Chen Mobai immediately looked at Chen Chun. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the game room beyond the void portal.

"Are they here?" The moment Chen Chun stepped in, Patriarch Qianxing already knew and spoke. His figure then instantly vanished from his spot, appearing directly outside.

"Greetings, Patriarch!" Chen Mobai immediately rose from the stone stool, performing an ancient salutation to the short, youthful-faced, white-haired boy before him.

"Achieving Nascent Soul at eighty-nine, quite remarkable. To have such a talent emerge under my governance, I suppose I've surpassed my predecessors."

Patriarch Qianxing's attitude greatly surprised Chen Mobai. He had expected to be targeted and subjected to a barrage of cold remarks. Unexpectedly, Patriarch Qianxing was very amicable.

"Have a seat. You were dawdling at Wangxian Peak earlier, so I started a new game. It took a while to finish it. You've been waiting long, haven't you?"

"Not at all, not at all. It is my honor to await the Patriarch."

After hearing this, Chen Mobai grew even more nervous, feeling that Patriarch Qianxing might be hiding a dagger behind his smile and that a storm might be brewing.

"Bai Guang hasn't emerged from seclusion yet, has she?" Suddenly, Patriarch Qianxing asked this with a half-smile, causing Chen Mobai's heart to tremble. "Never mind. She's quite petty and dislikes being discussed behind her back, so let's not talk about her."

However, while Chen Mobai was still figuring out how to answer, both to avoid exposing Yu Huiping and to deflect the question, Patriarch Qianxing had already directly changed the subject.

"Yes." Chen Mobai immediately nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt awe for Patriarch Qianxing's mysterious power.

"I heard that you relied on Doushuai Fire to form your Nascent Soul?"

At this point, the conversation finally got to the main topic, and Patriarch Qianxing began to inquire about Chen Mobai's Nascent Soul formation. Chen Mobai wasn't surprised how Patriarch Qianxing knew. He figured it must have been Ying Guanghua who told him. However, when he directly defeated Nangong Xuanyu with Doushuai Fire in the Little Chitian, he had no intention of concealing it. So, upon hearing the question, he immediately spoke the words he had prepared: "Yes, when I comprehended the Dao through the Immortal Fire Spirit Root, I fully understood the *Violet-Green Demon Refining Heavenly Scroll* and obtained the Doushuai Fire immortal art, as well as the method to craft the Violet-Green Doushuai Eight-Scenery Demon Refining Lamp."

Facing Patriarch Qianxing, Chen Mobai dared not lie, so he could only express himself concisely. He also produced the hand-drawn design schematic for the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp, which he had prepared beforehand. As expected, Patriarch Qianxing was immediately intrigued. He took the schematic and examined it carefully. Chen Mobai saw golden light gleam in his eyes, clearly indicating he was using the 'Square Inch Scroll' to deduce and verify.

Among the Immortal Sect's Divine Transformation Great Arts, Patriarch Qianxing's 'Square Inch Scroll' had reached the pinnacle. Although its main function was to help cultivators break through realms, it was also top-tier in terms of basic deduction and calculation knowledge.

"Have a seat; I'll study this for a bit." Patriarch Qianxing multi-tasked, his eyes on the schematic. With a wave of his hand, an exquisite tea table appeared between them. He then instructed Chen Chun to brew tea for them, while he fully immersed himself in the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp design.

Seeing Patriarch Qianxing engrossed in the schematic, Chen Mobai also felt a sense of relief. After all, he knew that his Doushuai Fire was condensed from the Two-Element Qi of the Tianhe Realm. If Patriarch Qianxing investigated deeply, his claim of obtaining it through Dao comprehension might not fool him.

At this moment, Chen Chun offered him a cup of tea. Chen Mobai took it and took a sip, his eyes lighting up. The tea was deep red and rich, with a faint sweetness. After drinking it, his mind felt a gentle warmth and slight intoxication. Soon, he felt his Nascent Soul grow slightly under the tea's effects. Chen Mobai immediately examined himself internally, discovering that this single sip of tea was equivalent to nearly half a year of his diligent cultivation. The progress of the first layer of his Pure Yang Scroll Nascent Soul had reached 3.3.

Chen Mobai, who had previously thought the Immortal Sect lacked truly good items, immediately drank the rest of the tea in his hand. However, he noticed that the effect seemed to only apply to the first sip. He immediately handed the cup back to Chen Chun with anticipation. She hesitated slightly before brewing him another cup.

Judging by her reluctance, was this tea very precious? Thinking this, Chen Mobai finished the second cup. Soon, he found that the effect of this second cup was only half of the first.

"This is the spirit tea from Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, Nine-Bend Heavenly Red. It can enhance true qi and nourish the Nascent Soul. Along with Enlightenment Tea, it's one of the Immortal Sect's two great spirit teas, one green, one red."

Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. For this Nine-Bend Heavenly Red to benefit Nascent Soul cultivators, it had to be at least a Rank 4 spirit tea. He had never heard of it before, which suggested it was likely only supplied to Divine Transformation Patriarchs.

"I am also very fond of tea trees. I previously worked with Wenren Xuewei to promote various ancient tea trees of the Immortal Sect. I wonder where the Nine-Bend Heavenly Red tea tree is located, and if I might have the good fortune to transplant a sapling?"

Chen Mobai directly voiced his thoughts, but Chen Chun shook her head.

"The Nine-Bend Heavenly Red tea tree can only survive here on Five Peaks Immortal Mountain. The predecessors of Jumang Dao Academy considered transplanting it long ago, but after being transplanted elsewhere, its quality would at most be Rank 3."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai wondered in his mind, "If Jumang Dao Academy couldn't do it, could Zhuo Ming?" However, since there were records at Jumang Dao Academy, he could inquire with Wenren Xuewei in the future.

"What an impressive Dharma artifact! It's a pity that with the Immortal Sect's resources, we could at most craft a replica."

Chen Mobai saw Patriarch Qianxing extend his hand, and a new schematic landed on the tea table.

"Take a look; this is the revised schematic." Hearing this, Chen Mobai immediately took it and opened it. He couldn't help but feel a profound reverence. This replica of the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp, although it would only be Rank 4 upon completion, used only Rank 4 spiritual materials available in the Immortal Sect. Moreover, if its spirit was nurtured exceptionally well in the future, it held the hope of advancing to Rank 5. If the artifact's owner was a cultivator like Chen Mobai, who practiced the *Can Tong Qi*, it could even transform from a replica into an authentic item. This was akin to directly lowering the threshold for Chen Mobai to refine the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp.

"The Patriarch's artifact refinement mastery is truly unparalleled in the Immortal Sect."

Patriarch Qianxing was a versatile genius of the Immortal Sect. His skills in artifact refinement, talisman crafting, alchemy, and more were all at Rank 5. Furthermore, his mastery of array formations was legendary, reaching Rank 6, making him the only one currently capable of fully controlling the Grand Sky-Earth Array.

"It's merely thanks to the *Can Tong Qi*; it's nothing worth mentioning." Patriarch Qianxing waved his hand after hearing this. His scholarship was profound, and he had integrated all seven great Divine Transformation cultivation methods of the Immortal Sect, and even various forbidden arts from ancient Daoist traditions, into his 'Square Inch Scroll.' But even so, modifying the design schematic of the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp had proven quite taxing for him. It truly deserved its reputation as a Dharma artifact recorded in a Heavenly Scroll.

"Records of this Doushuai Fire and the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp were actually left by Qing Shi and Qing Jing. However, while there was a complete Doushuai Fire, only a partial schematic of the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp remained, and they hadn't fully comprehended it either. But in this current era, through your talented hands, it has finally appeared in its complete form."

Patriarch Qianxing's words made Chen Mobai realize the truth. Indeed, seniors Qing Shi and Qing Jing had also comprehended the Doushuai Eight-Scenery Lamp. Unfortunately, they also knew that under the Immortal Sect's circumstances, it would be impossible to successfully refine it. The incomplete schematic was likely due to them not expending the effort to fully comprehend it.

"If you possess Doushuai Fire, condensing Pure Yang True Qi would undoubtedly be very fast. This is also the power of life, very useful for nurturing the Nascent Soul. No wonder you were confident enough to form your Nascent Soul directly after reaching the ninth layer of Golden Core."

Hearing Patriarch Qianxing's words, Chen Mobai's hanging heart finally settled.

"There were some troubling matters within the Immortal Sect before, which I needed to resolve after forming my Nascent Soul. So I just went for it in one go. Fortunately, I had good luck and managed to succeed."

As Chen Mobai spoke, he observed Patriarch Qianxing's expression. The latter's face remained unchanged after hearing it; instead, he smiled and asked a question.

"With your talent, there's a good chance you can achieve Divine Transformation. Would you like me to use the Square Inch Scroll to examine your prospects?"

Patriarch Qianxing's "Infinite" realm was the most proficient at breakthrough in the Immortal Sect. It was precisely by relying on this that he could achieve Divine Transformation, and even help the cultivators of the Heaven-Mending lineage continuously achieve Nascent Soul. This was something all cultivators in the Immortal Sect yearned for. But Chen Mobai hesitated. After all, he had too many secrets. If he allowed Patriarch Qianxing to perform a deduction, putting aside everything else, his Primal Chaos True Qi would definitely be exposed. Furthermore, Chen Mobai knew himself well; he was not inherently destined for Divine Transformation. Without the accumulated resources of the Tianhe Realm, he would just be an ordinary person. Although he could now barely be considered a genius, if he openly allowed Patriarch Qianxing to deduce, his terrifyingly high Five-Element Spirit Root stats alone would be unexplainable.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Patriarch. However, I have just achieved the Nascent Soul stage, and have not yet encountered any bottlenecks in my cultivation. I wish to first see if I can reach that stage on my own." Chen Mobai found an excuse, using words that fit his confident and proud persona within the Immortal Sect.

As expected, Chen Chun, who was nearby, changed her expression upon hearing this. This was the first person in the Immortal Sect to refuse Patriarch Qianxing.

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! Only with such ambition can one achieve Divine Transformation..." However, Patriarch Qianxing appeared very pleased, because he knew that this young man before him, even if he couldn't truly achieve Divine Transformation, had a very high success rate for refining the "rules."

"Do you know what became of the Doushuai Fire left behind after Qing Shi and Qing Jing ascended?"

Chen Mobai's curiosity was piqued: "I do not. Please enlighten me, Patriarch."

"True Monarch Taiyuan used it when he refined the 'rules.' Because it was an isolated case, we couldn't be sure if his success in refining the 'rules' was entirely due to the Doushuai Fire. However, based on his own experience, he believed it played a crucial role. If you fail to achieve Divine Transformation in the future, with the Doushuai Fire, your success rate for refining the 'rules' and achieving Divine Transformation will certainly be very high."

Chen Mobai's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this. Although one's body and mind would no longer be entirely one's own after refining the rules, it was still Divine Transformation! Furthermore, he quickly thought, "If I can cultivate the 'rules' in the Eastern Wilderness, and my Pure Yang Scroll fails to achieve Divine Transformation, could I refine the 'rules' there instead? Then, using the Eastern Wilderness as a center, gradually expanding the 'rules' throughout the entire Tianhe Realm, would I be able to break free from the limitations of being confined to one corner, and perhaps even break through boundaries and lead an entire realm to ascension?"

"Patriarch, what are these 'rules'? How can they assist in Divine Transformation?" Although Chen Mobai had long heard about this from Reverend Yunhai, he certainly had to feign ignorance before Patriarch Qianxing. After Patriarch Qianxing explained, he then asked how these "rules" could be cultivated, strengthened, and refined.

"To explain this clearly would take three days and three nights. It is a seed of Dao laws that the Immortal Sect's Five Patriarchs brought over when their Dao field was shattered. It grew and developed under the nurture of Earth Essence Star's civilization."

As Patriarch Qianxing spoke, Chen Mobai felt a slight disappointment, thinking he had no way to cultivate the 'rules' in the Eastern Wilderness.

"Everything about the 'rules' is recorded in the Dao Law Heavenly Scroll at the Heavenly Scroll Academy. If you're interested, you can go and study it. With your talent, you might even see the later parts on cultivating the 'Fruit of Dao Laws' to maturity, which is the part that can break through the limitations of the 'rules.'"

Patriarch Qianxing's words made Chen Mobai's eyes light up. He thought to himself, since he was now a Nascent Soul cultivator and had mastered the 'Square Inch Scroll,' comprehending the Heavenly Scroll shouldn't be difficult. Even if he couldn't fully comprehend it, reading the beginning shouldn't be an issue. Surely, he couldn't understand nothing at all?

"Thank you for your guidance, Patriarch. Next year, after I've arranged matters with the Three Great Halls, I will go to the Heavenly Scroll Academy to take a look."

Patriarch Qianxing nodded, then suddenly steered the conversation back to what Chen Mobai had said earlier.

"The path of cultivation lies not in external things, but within oneself. The power struggles within the Three Great Halls are merely a game to maintain vitality among the various lineages of the Immortal Sect. If everyone were truly amicable and accommodating, the Immortal Sect would instead become stagnant. Only through competition can there be progress. Or rather, only Nascent Soul cultivators who emerge from competition truly have hope of achieving Divine Transformation. Since you've distanced yourself, remember this going forward: don't overdo anything; letting those below compete is quite beneficial."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai felt that Patriarch Qianxing was explaining the Heaven-Mending lineage's previous targeting of his Weapon Dance lineage, but he also felt it was a bit evasive. However, for a Divine Transformation Patriarch to personally explain it to him was already a great show of respect.

"Yes, Patriarch!" So he nodded respectfully, signifying his acceptance.

"There's one more thing you must remember: while one can advance through the Divine Transformation stage using resources or even 'rules,' to attempt the Void Refinement stage beyond Divine Transformation, the primary requirement is inner clarity. Only by completely purifying oneself, remaining untainted by dust, and becoming almost akin to void, can one achieve Void Refinement."

Patriarch Qianxing suddenly spoke words that Chen Mobai couldn't understand. He was currently only at the Nascent Soul stage, with Divine Transformation still a distant prospect. Why was he suddenly talking about realms beyond Divine Transformation?

"Bai Guang is attempting to sever worldly ties, and I too have stayed away from all power struggles in the Immortal Sect to free myself from worldly attachments. You, like Qi Yuheng, are among the most likely of this generation's Nascent Soul cultivators to advance to Divine Transformation. That's why I'm reminding you of this in advance: the fewer 'lines' you have on you, the better."

Chen Mobai was still somewhat confused, but when he mentioned "lines"... Could it be the ones entangled with the Crown of Heaven and Earth's Myriad Beings?

"Patriarch, what are these 'lines'?" Chen Mobai always asked questions when he didn't understand something. Moreover, he sensed that Patriarch Qianxing held no ill will towards him.

"Beyond Divine Transformation lies the ethereal Void Refinement realm. This realm is difficult to describe; if I had to use one term, it would be 'Great Emptiness and Nothingness.' For a human body to reach this state, it's best to be untainted by dust, meaning severing all karma and cutting off all worldly ties."

Chen Mobai still didn't fully understand Patriarch Qianxing's words, but he grasped one thing: That was, the fewer "lines" on him, the better. Patriarch Bai Guang has been in seclusion for so many years, not concerning herself with worldly affairs. Could it be that she's purifying her body and mind, removing worldly ties, hoping to one day break through that barrier?

"Patriarch, how does one become untainted by dust?"

Patriarch Qianxing stood up after hearing this, and pointed down the mountain.

"In the mortal world, every person with whom you have a relationship will have a 'line' connecting them to you. If the relationship is ordinary and you break ties, the line will naturally fade. However, the lines connecting you to your parents and relatives cannot be easily severed by this method. In ancient Daoist traditions, there were powerful figures who, in pursuit of the Dao, killed their parents and eliminated all friends and family, but this is the Demonic Dao. The Immortal Sect's method is to leave the Three Great Halls, or even the mortal world, after achieving Divine Transformation. Because if you hold an official position in the Immortal Sect, people related to your position also form 'lines' with you. For example, the head of the military department would be entangled with millions of lines. Divine Transformation cultivators have long lifespans, so they can always wait until their relatives pass away. However, some still carry guilt because of this..."

At this point, Patriarch Qianxing glanced at the neighboring Wangxian Peak, then continued, as Chen Mobai watched with anticipation.

"Among these, there is one type of 'line' that does not disappear even after a person dies: promises. Only after you fulfill a promise can you sever this line. Another form of promise is a Dao Heart Vow. If you and another person make a vow to each other, and the matter isn't completed, and that person happens to die unexpectedly, that line becomes a dead line. Therefore, the higher one's cultivation, the fewer Dao Heart Vows one should make. Especially vows that implicate your own self. Among these, the most forbidden vows are those requiring a cultivator's eternal loyalty, because if the wording is improper, it might entangle two people for eternity. Within the Immortal Sect's system, there are many instances where Dao Heart Vows are required. The object of a cultivator's vow is the Immortal Sect as a whole. Therefore, the Three Great Hall Masters, as direct representatives of the Immortal Sect, are entangled with hundreds of millions of lines. However, the previous generation of sages also considered this. Thus, the object of these lines is the Immortal Sect as a whole. As long as the Three Great Hall Masters abdicate after achieving Divine Transformation, they can avoid being entangled with hundreds of millions of worldly lines, preserving their hope of pursuing the higher Void Refinement realm."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai stood dumbfounded. The Immortal Sect had a method like the 'Golden Cicada Escaping its Shell.' What about the Tianhe Realm? As the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, did he also have many lines on him? When disciples were taught cultivation methods and made vows, who was the object of their vows? Chen Mobai constantly recalled, and finally remembered: it was the cultivator themselves. If they violated the oath, their soul would be annihilated. Thinking of this, Chen Mobai let out a sigh of relief.

However, even so, as long as the disciples of the Five Elements Sect existed, countless lines would be tied to him as the Sect Master. No wonder Yuan Zhen, when mediating between Chen Mobai and Reverend Bingyun previously, had them make vows to each other, with her not getting involved. Even when purging demonic cultivators, she made suspects swear to prove their innocence. These heirs of sacred lands must have known about this. Therefore, only under absolutely necessary circumstances would they use Dao Heart Vows to bind each other.

Chen Mobai recalled again; it seemed that within the Five Elements Sect, there were no vows directly involving him. The objects of the vows were always between disciples and the sect. He guessed that perhaps, long ago, this was common knowledge. Thus, major sects inherited this framework. Especially the Five Elements Sect, which carried the legacy of True Monarch Yiyuan, an ascended cultivator. Since Patriarch Hunyuan received his inheritance, he must have known these details, and therefore set this up when the sect was founded.

Recalling carefully again, Chen Mobai thought of individual Dao Heart Vows that did involve himself. It seemed he needed to find a way to resolve them in advance. Immediately, he thought of his Crown of Heaven and Earth's Myriad Beings. He could directly see his "lines" by observing the world externally. He wondered if Divine Transformation cultivators in the Immortal Sect could do this.

"Patriarch, if a cultivator forgets some 'lines,' are there any secret methods to find them?"

Patriarch Qianxing shook his head directly after hearing this.

"At least within the Immortal Sect, there is no such secret method. If you forget your past promises, vows, or karma, that line will entangle you for life. However, for cultivators, they can only strive to keep themselves pure and reduce their burden when attempting Void Refinement. Although no one in the Immortal Sect has successfully achieved Void Refinement throughout history, there is still considerable experience. It is normal for a cultivator to have a few 'lines' on them; they can simply proceed with Void Refinement while carrying these lines. However, the number of these lines must not be too many, because it means you would be dragging the matters connected by these karmic lines into Void Refinement with you. With a small number, one can still forcefully enter Void Refinement relying on profound cultivation, but if there are thousands, even hundreds of millions, you might take half a step and feel as if countless hands are pulling you down, burdened heavily, and instead fall into an abyss!"

Hearing this, Chen Mobai felt a chill in his heart. Fortunately, he was cautious and did not engage in conflicts. Even his Dao Heart Vows were mostly short-term, with the lines severing once completed. If he had truly been ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, his path to Void Refinement would likely be cut off by now.

"Thank you for your guidance, Patriarch. If your disciple succeeds in Void Refinement one day, it will surely be the fruit of today's teachings." Chen Mobai sincerely rose, expressing his gratitude to Patriarch Qianxing.

At this moment, his perception of the Heaven-Mending lineage also shifted slightly. It was just that the subordinates had become corrupt; the leader above was still good.

"No need for formalities. Bai Guang is in seclusion, so it is my duty to discuss these matters. Every Nascent Soul cultivator from the Immortal Sect who comes to Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, provided they show potential for Divine Transformation, I will advise them thus."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai thanked him again.

"One more thing: the Immortal Sect's resources are limited, and the number of Nascent Soul cultivators must be kept under twenty. If you intend to let others use your Doushuai Fire, you must bear this in mind."

Patriarch Qianxing added, and Chen Mobai immediately nodded in agreement.

"But in that case, if another person of my talent were to achieve Nascent Soul relying on their own foundations, exceeding the limit on Nascent Soul cultivators, what then?"